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Wollumbin, The Warrior Chief & the Turkey

April 04, 2020 8 Comments

Wollumbin stands as a majestic mountain in a bowl – shaped valley surrounded by a ring of mountain ranges, the Mt Warning Caldera.

Wollumbin stands 1157 metres high today. Twenty million years ago, it was the main plug or outlet of the massive volcano from which poured lava, forming the mountqains and reefs in the north-east corner of New South Wales.

Wollumbin has more than one legend attached to it. Some are linked to the origin of the name, Wollumbin. Some people also say Wollumbin means cloudcatcher or weather-maker; others say it means Warrior Chief or Turkey.

Here are the stories about the Warrior Chief and Turkey.

Wollumbin – The Warrior Chief

The word, Wollumbin, is also said to mean warrior or fighting chief of the mountain. Legend has it that the spirits of the mountains were warriors. The wounds they received in battles are the scars on the mountainside, and the thunder and lightning are the results of their battles.

If you look today towards Wollumbin from certain angles, you will see the face of the warrior chief in the mountain outline. Wollumbin is a very sacred initiation site for men. In traditional Aboriginal life only the fully initiated men could go to the top of the mountain.

This importance and the legends that remain today, demonstrate the significance of this sacred and imposing mountain on people of the valley.

Wollumbin – The Turkey

Once, a long time ago, turkeys could fly greater distances than they can today. Well, one turkey flew from Mt Brown. He had joined a gathering of other birds talking, when a giant bird approached. All the birds, the turkey too, were so frightened they flew away quickly. The turkey flew all the way to Wollumbin, stopping on the top of the great mountain to catch his breath, but as he rested, he was wounded in the head by a spear from a warrior. Because of his head wound, the turkey’s flying ability was impaired.

That is the reason why turkeys today can fly only short distances before they must rest; and if you look at Wollumbin you can see the mountain top has a small bend in it where the spear hit the turkey. The mountain tip is the point of the warriors spear.

8 Responses

bianca schuettpelz

August 09, 2022

thankyou for sharing this story!! I have lived here my whole life and only ever heard the Captain Cook version, I can’t wait to be able to teach this story in local schools one day and show students this magical place!

Jennifer pysden

March 21, 2021

⛰ 🏔 ❤️🐨

Matt Newby

March 21, 2021

Im an adopted local, wiradjuri but feel at home. Im sure there is a reason, here to find out what it is….

poppy weis

April 04, 2020

such a special spirit.I am very grateful for him

David Francis

January 22, 2020

I visited the mountain today and was captivated by the experience. I’m concerned that people seem obsessed with the summit of the mountain rather than the beauty of the forest surrounding it. I have never seen so many such magnificent trees and the birdsong was enthralling. I kept telling the people I met on the trail to take off their hats and look up at the amazing canopy above. I think they thought I had gone mad !

Fiona

January 21, 2019

I LOVE this special mountain! He is my friend and I have not ever or could not ever climb him. I feel a bit rude getting too close to him even in town at uki or at the bottom of the mountain where the national park is as I’m not sure what is the respectful distance for him.
I was living at uki now I live in Mullum. Since I’ve known him the past 21 years he has always felt like the mountain patriarch for sure and the warrior chief wise old man absolutely! He is the ultimate weather conductor -that feels like big part of his medicine -electricity! He is extremely special -it’s my dream to buy all the land for sale around him and give back as native title one day -SOON!! protect him from lots of other things also including the water mining and from domestic animals so the wildlife will be safe and thrive. I have thought about making it a kickstarter crowdfund as I don’t have $ but I am not indig so feel it’s not really my place to organise maybe?! I just want to see this amazing sacred mountain and its ancestors protected.
I was just researching which parts are cared for by which custodians of bundjalung nation is it all minyungbal yugambeh? Any local mob who like this vision are welcome to contact me I know some of you already -leave a message for me here or at the shop ;)
Fi

elliot knight

July 18, 2018

i am the 7 granson of king wollumbin i got the full storie

Rebecca Grenfell

January 23, 2018

Thank you for this brief discussion on the origins of the name `Wollumbin’. I had heard of it meaning `cloud catcher’ but did not know the mythical story of the turkey.
I live in Mullumbimby, and am disappointed at the regularity of the use of `Mt Warning’ by locals who are usually respectful about First Australian peoples. I have gently discussed the inappropriateness of using `Mt Warning’ in today’s context, giving the example of using the word Uluru instead of `Ayers Rock’, which is now accepted by the majority of Australians. Our language defines our culture, and vice versa.
In this respect, I think the story of the turkey would be improved if the name for `Mt Brown’ could be replaced with the original name of the mountain, with `Mt Brown’ in brackets. At the time of the story, there was no such place as `Mt Brown’, and this would keep the myth in line within its context. As it is, it’s something of a mixed metaphor!
Thank you for your time to read my comments, regards Rebecca

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